Becoming a Christian is not what Many People Think

I am always suspect and dismayed when a Christian marries a person who became a Christian to marry them and they have no enthusiasm for the Lord, not even enough to mention to others their newfound faith.

For a time the "new Christian" is all excited about the potlucks, the activities, and maybe even the music, but they have little desire to grow in holiness through prayer and study of the Word of God. They have no eagerness to know the heart of God. It is common for these kinds of converts to eventually walk away from the faith. The burden of pretending becomes too much for them and they often revert back to their old selves, which really never left, it was lurking inside while the play-acting on the outside was occurring, fooling many around them.

Without a dramatic change in someone's life, lacking evidence of the fruit of the Spirit, it is likely the person never became born again.

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

When we speak to these people about the Lord they act embarrassed and have nothing to say except to endure our ramblings about Christ.

Many people join the group of Christians to be included but have no desire for Christ.

Lots of people think joining a Christian club will make others think they have become a better person. Perhaps they even hope they will become a better person by joining a church group. What they do not realize is that joining a Christian group does not make anyone a Christian.

When superficial Christianity is based on someone having a good time, feeling good about themselves and fitting in with others who are enjoying themselves in the group, we can be sure we are observing a cultural Christian who is not born-again.

Matthew 7:21-23

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

Those who have been born again authentically are those who have confessed their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ into a new person. These people have accepted that they cannot gain heaven without Christ and that hell is their destiny if they do not trust in Him.

Those who have trusted Christ have a completely changed mind. They hate the sin they used to love and love God's righteousness that they used to hate., They are no longer the same person anymore. They don't have to try to change, God did that for them.

They need no laws or rules to keep them saved because they were changed and love the commands of God, even willing to die to defend Christ and His principles.

Romans 14:8

"For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's."

The proof of the Salvation of a believer is the Fruit of the Spirit and the drivenness to live for Christ. Their demeanor will be so changed that those who knew them before they were born-again will be able to see the change in them.

If there has been no change there has been no salvation. Sadly I know many people just like this, they are covertly hostile toward authentic believers, avoiding them as much as possible. They fear they will be discovered.

We are transformed not reformed. The old is not made better, it is gone completely and the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit comes to live in those whom He has changed.

Hallelujah!!!!!

The Insecure Covert Narcissist

The covert narcissist is very insecure or they would not feel a need to act superior.

A confident person doesn't need to feel superior to others. I know narcissists who are family members who can only associate with those who elevate the narcissist as special. They can only associate with other people they think are special. Being a member of the popular clique is important to the narcissist.

We need to pray for these kinds of people and ourselves that we are not sucked into their trap. They have no desire to be godly only to appear godly. As long as they can pretend and fool people they are satisfied with the illusion.

The people who know what the narcissist is on the inside are those who are the targets of emotional abuse from the narcissist. Those who are the flying monkeys, that is those who believe the pretense will not believe the one who is the target of abuse.

Most people live on the plane of superficiality, they believe what they see shown to them but have no depth to be able to discern a spiritual problem.

When we can see with Spiritual eyes, that is the help of the Holy Spirit we can see things that most people cannot discern.

James 1:5-6 "5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…'

Our churches are full of pretenders who want people to think they are godly and special but have no fruit of the Spirit proving what they wish others to believe about them.

Galatians 5:22-26 "22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other."

There are so many of these narcissists in the world now as we approach the end of the age that they are more common than authentically Spirit-led believers. In fact, it is so normal today that most people cannot perceive what is going on and are not likely to believe others who do have wisdom with insight.

Thankfully the Holy Spirit in every believer can expose and warn those who wish to stay to the truth. Narcissists don't care about the truth, they only care that they appear intelligent, even if it means changing God's Word to fit their desired belief that elevates them in the culture.

Sad but true, do not become one of them, stay loyal to Christ's Word and you will not be decided.

Live by Truth Alone

Truth from God will bless us! Emotionalism will trip us up every time. We have emotions we just don't live by them.

Illegitimate Children without Discipline

If someone thinks they are doing alright because God is not disciplining them, they need to be very afraid.

We must remember that God does not discipline those who do not belong to Him. He allows their consequences to punish them but they don't even think there is anything wrong.

Hebrews 12:8

"If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons."

Hebrews 12:6 "

"For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He punishes every son whom He accepts.”

Many Pentecostals think they are being blessed because they have become wealthy or they are not having any health problems. This is a dangerous way to think. Just because life seems good does not mean God's favor is on us. Often God gives people what they want that is not good for them because they are rebellious. Just because Moses allowed the Israelites to divorce does not mean they were blessed to do so. In fact, Jesus Christ said; "it was because of the hardness of your hearts that Moses granted divorce."

It is amazing how many people leave off the phrase; "because of the hardness of your hearts" thinking that means its alright to divorce. Believe me when I say the worst thing that can happen to us is to have a hard heart. The divorce allowance was not a blessing and the hard heart was a curse.

The greatest way God blesses is with wisdom and peace of mind. We are thankful for all God gives us but mostly we are thankful for His wisdom when we ask for it. Material possessions and pleasure pale greatly in comparison with wisdom.

James 1:5-6

"5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

When we have wisdom we will want to seek the Holy Spirit for everything. We are wise enough to know that Christ knows the future and He knows the best for us. He does not operate from foolish emotion as we do, so we want Him to guide our every step.

Divorce and Remarriage Loved by the World

Romans 1:31-32 "…31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless, merciless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things are worthy of death, they not only continue to do these things, but also approve of those who practice them."

How many times have we seen "Christians" approving of and even defending divorce and remarriage as though the second marriage is a legitimate union?

God said that remarriage after divorce is adultery and continues to be so as long as the couple remains together.

Luke 16:17-18 "17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law. 18 Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

Many pastors are marrying divorced people and many pastors are divorced and remarried themselves. If anyone remains in a church where the pastor is in this condition of support for what God hates, they are approving of what angers God. And, they are bringing judgment in the form of leanness of their souls that often is unrecognized. The spiritual health of a body of Christ is based on their obedience to Christ's commands.

Many gatherings don't know how sick they are spiritually or the dangers to their families and the community for disobedience against God.

1 Corinthians 11:29-31 "…29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.…"

Most gatherings who have become worldly don't think they are weak and sick but they are getting weaker and less discerning as time goes on, unable to tell the difference between truth and error.

The passage in Matthew is the one divorce supporters quote all the time about "if someone commits fornication", only they change the word to say; "adultery." This passage is not supporting divorce from marriage, but rather from the Jewish betrothal, what we call engagement.

Matthew was written to the Jews who had the custom of requiring a divorce from engagement. This is why the word "fornication" is used rather than adultery. Fornication is before marriage, and adultery is after marriage when there is unfaithfulness in a relationship.

Every believer knew two generations ago that divorce was a sin and remarriage also. Today it is difficult to find "Christians" who understand the truth about this matter of the permanency of marriage.

When God makes two people one in marriage the spiritual glue He used cannot be dissolved by man. "no man can separate what God has joined." God joins all people saved and unsaved when they make their promise, it is His work, not man's.

God's commandments were for all people, the reason unbelievers are going to hell if they reject Christ is their propensity to reject Christ and His principles.

God's commands are not just for believers, they are for everyone. If we reject His commands we are rejecting Him.

Sadly many people who attend churches are smudging the name of Christ by endorsing the ways of the world while disrespecting God's Word.

Jesus Christ is called the "Word", He is the very essence of His own word. Denying His word is to deny Him. Changing His word to fit the culture is lying against Him.

John 14:15-16 "15 If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…"

God will not send the Advocate for those who reject His Word.

John 14:21

"Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."

John 14:23

"Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

John 15:10

"If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love."

These things are not hard to understand, people choose to believe what they want pretending they are obeying Christ when they change what He said.

Most Christians are dedicated to cultural Christianity but not to Christ, the very reason they fight to defend whatever the culture is doing while ignoring, demeaning, and neglecting Jesus Christ.

Let's not defend the ways of the world merely to fit into the world. Let's obey God even if no one else supports us in what we have decided to do....that is to love God above all else, even ourselves.